6 hours Day trip to Otaru (from Sapporo)

You’ll hop on a train to Otaru with your host, where you’ll see a side to Japanese history vastly different from the temples and shrines you’d expect – one of colonial architecture, old port markets, and steam clocks. You’ll stroll along the canal, an old-world promenade illuminated by the golden glow of oil lamps in the early evening and lined with old warehouses converted into antique stores and cafes, or hop on a canal cruise for a different vantage point. You’ll discover the city’s famous glass-blowing industry and shop for intricate souvenirs, see the Otaru Music Box Museum’s collection of 25,000 music boxes (or customize your own brand-new one), and sample sake at the Tanaka Sake Brewery before heading back to Sapporo.